With help from Darren Goode, Erica Martinson, Darius Dixon and Talia Buford

THE GHOST OF ROMNEY PAST: Mitt Romney promised to achieve North American energy independence if the voters put him in the White House. But now, evidence is mounting that the once-implausible-sounding achievement will happen without him. Tuesday saw the release of the latest in a series of post-election reports projecting that the U.S. is reducing its reliance on imported oil and gasoline faster than anyone had previously expected. And none of this depends on implementing the energy plan Romney proposed in August, which called for dismantling President Barack Obama’s restrictions on offshore drilling and handing states control over oil and gas production on federal lands. Andrew Restuccia has the story: http://politi.co/Xa63xN

SENATE PANEL MEETS ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY INCENTIVES: The Senate Finance energy subcommittee today will discuss three bills (S. 3591, S. 1914 and S. 3352) from panel Chairman Jeff Bingaman and Sen. Olympia Snowe adding or modifying existing energy efficiency tax incentives for commercial buildings, homes and industry. The bills won’t go anywhere before the two senators retire this year, but a Bingaman aide said they could help discussions on broader tax reform next Congress. The goal is to better integrate efficiency incentives in a reformed tax code by creating technologically neutral and performance-based standards to better utilize scarce federal dollars and improve the return investment to the government. 10 a.m. in 215 Dirksen.

Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, will testify that some efficiency standards are doing well and others aren’t. “What I’m going to be suggesting is that energy efficiency tax credits have a continued role to play even in tax reform, but we’re going to have to maximize the bang for the buck, as you will,” he told ME. “We recognize that money’s going to be very limited.” Among those working best cover appliances and new homes while those for commercial buildings “could be highly cost effective but need some tweaking,” Nadel said. What isn’t working well? Incentives for windows, which should be “dramatically” stricter, he said.

BIG PICTURE: Sen. Ron Wyden said the tax code will certainly be a part of the energy agenda next Congress. "Obviously there's an intersection on the energy side between what goes on on the Energy Committee [and] what goes on on the Finance Committee, and I intend to work closely with [Finance] Chairman [Max] Baucus,” Wyden told reporters Tuesday.

HOUSE TO TAKE UP PRIMATENE MIST BILL: The House today is scheduled to take up a bill letting Amphastar Pharmaceuticals to sell leftover stocks of Primatene Mist, which was banned by EPA and FDA because of a Montreal Protocol provision phasing out products containing chlorofluorocarbons. The legislation cleared the Energy and Commerce Committee on a voice vote and was first set to be voted on in November before being pulled from the floor because of a “scheduling issue.” Both times, the International Pharmaceutical Aerosol Consortium has lobbied lawmakers against passing the bill. Erica Martinson had more on why yesterday: http://politico.pro/STNBLn

LUGAR TO INTRODUCE NATO LNG BILL: Republican Sen. Dick Lugar will introduce the Liquefied Natural Gas for NATO Act today. The legislation “would place NATO allies on equal footing with free trade partners under U.S. law in providing for automatic licenses for U.S. LNG exports,” Lugar writes in a letter to colleagues. “Unlike in past years, U.S. domestic shale natural gas production affords us the opportunity to directly alleviate the dependency of our NATO allies in the Baltics, Central and Southeastern Europe, and Turkey on Russian supplies, and further isolate Iran, while benefiting the U.S. economy by opening new markets.” Lugar also recommends reinstating the position of U.S. Envoy for Eurasian Energy Security and helping NATO allies such as Turkey get more Caspian Sea gas to increase energy supply diversification. The 70-page staff report and 1-page LNG for NATO Act: http://politico.pro/UB8N7f

** A message from America’s Natural Gas Alliance: When used to generate electricity, natural gas burns cleaner than other fuel sources, with less pollutants and no mercury. Learn more about this abundant, American resource: http://bit.ly/d652Uo **

LAWMAKERS PRESS TAX STRUCTURES FOR RENEWABLES: Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Reps. Ted Poe (R-Texas), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) will hold a news conference to talk about a letter they and other lawmakers are sending to President Barack Obama pushing for tax structures known as master limited partnerships and real estate investment trusts to be opened up to renewable energy projects. The partnerships allow access to lower-cost capital and other benefits and are only available under law for investors in oil, natural gas, coal extraction and pipeline projects and explicitly prevented from applying to renewable energy investors. The lawmakers have been working on related legislation. 10 a.m. in SVC-201. The letter: http://1.usa.gov/T741OW

PIPELINE EXPLOSION IN WEST VIRGINIA: The Charleston Gazette reports: “A gas line exploded in Sissonville on Tuesday afternoon, leading to a massive blaze that destroyed houses, sent flames shooting nearly 100 feet into the air on both sides of Interstate 77 and melted asphalt and guardrails on the highway. No one was killed in the explosion and fire. … The blast destroyed an 800-foot section of road on both sides of Interstate 77 between the 112 and 114 mile markers. … The gas line is owned by NiSource Inc., the parent company of Columbia Gas.” Gazette: http://bit.ly/X8JUzX

ABRAHAM FIRM EXPANDS INTO PA: Former Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham’s government affairs firm is expanding into Pennsylvania because of that state’s booming energy sector. Abraham & Roetzel Government Affairs will announce today it is opening a new office in Harrisburg, Pa., adding to its D.C. and Columbus, Ohio, offices. Lou Crocco, a former executive director of the state Republican House Policy Committee, will be managing director. Former Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary for Mineral Resources Management Scott Roberts and state Legislature counsel Kimberly Contino also join the office.

COURT APPROVES A123 SALE TO WANXIANG: A Delaware bankruptcy court yesterday approved the sale of lithium-ion battery maker A123 to the Chinese firm Wanxiang. A123’s non-defense-related assets were won at auction over the weekend by Wanxiang over interest from other companies, including the U.S.-based Johnson Controls, for $256.6 million. The deal, which some Republicans say could lead to taxpayer grant dollars received by A123 going to foreign pockets, still has to be approved by the federal Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.

— A123 was the battery supplier to Fisker, and over the past few weeks the automaker laid off 40 workers in Anaheim as it negotiates with Wanxiang. Orange County Register: http://bit.ly/12iXjKd

COURT SCHEDULES VERMONT YANKEE ARGUMENTS: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit yesterday scheduled oral arguments in the next round of Entergy Corp.’s lawsuit against Vermont for trying to shut down the company’s only nuclear plant in the state. Arguments will take place Jan. 14 in New York City. Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and others in the state have long sought to shut down the Vermont Yankee plant, but the state lost the first round of the legal fight in January when District Judge J. Garvan Murtha ruled the state lacked the authority to close the plant.

THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE: From ME’s mailbag.

— The American Energy Alliance, Competitive Enterprise Institute and other groups are urging lawmakers from states without renewable portfolio standards to oppose extending the wind production tax credit. The PTC, the groups argue in a letter being sent today, “essentially transfers taxpayer dollars from your constituents and subsidizes the states with such mandates.” Read: http://bit.ly/VyF91e

— Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and 55 co-signing colleagues want EPA to set the national emissions standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), or soot, at 11 micrograms per cubic meter. EPA is due to finalize the National Ambient Air Quality Standards on Friday. Letter: http://1.usa.gov/USsNV8

— The National Hydropower Association, Geothermal Energy Association, Biomass Power Association and Energy Recovery Council wrote last week to President Obama encouraging him to support a change in the production tax credit for renewable energy letting projects that have begun construction by the end of next year to qualify for the credit, rather than having to be fully operational by that deadline. The letter: http://politico.pro/126f1Bw

COMPANY LAUNCHES ONLINE SOLAR TOOL: Geostellar, Inc., which received $500,000 under DOE’s SunShot program aimed at reducing red tape involved in siting and permitting residential solar projects, today will launch a program letting homeowners in most of the U.S. get an online appraisal for potential solar systems on their roofs by analyzing satellite imagery and then hook up with installers. The DOE money went toward a pilot project in West Virginia, and now the system is being launched nationwide. Geostellar’s site: http://bit.ly/SnBjcA

QUICK HITS

— Saudi Arabia has cut its oil production to the lowest level in a year amid weak economic growth and increasing U.S. production. Financial Times: http://on.ft.com/XQqIfj

— $227 million in Mississippi state aid for alternative energy companies has only led to about 500 jobs, the AP reports: http://on.thec-l.com/UAFuBF

— The government doesn’t know how much minerals are mined from public lands because mine operators pay no royalties, according to a new GAO report. Washington Post: http://wapo.st/VBywLk

THAT’S ALL FOR ME. One, two, you know what to do.

** A message from America's Natural Gas Alliance: We believe in a clean energy future. Natural gas is a cleaner energy choice and a key partner to solar and wind technologies. From California to Florida, natural gas facilities are working with renewable energy to ensure steady, affordable and cleaner energy choices for communities across our nation. Because it is an abundant and affordable energy source available right here in America, natural gas can help make the promise of cleaner energy a reality in more American communities. Natural gas is smarter power today. Visit anga.us to learn more. **

** A message from Vet Voice Foundation: Tens of thousands of service members and veterans rely on public lands to hunt, fish, camp and heal from the wounds of war. These lands are part of the American heritage we fought for. As a new President and Congress look to rebuild America's infrastructure, we call on them to make an equal investment in maintaining our public lands and parks for our service members and all Americans. Support for our veterans must extend to investing in and protecting America’s natural heritage, for our children and grandchildren. www.VetVoiceFoundation.org **

Authors:

About The Author

Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO Pro, where he covers EPA, regulations and coal, as well as lobbying and campaign finance in the energy realm. He previously wrote the Morning Energy newsletter. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., with a degree in anthropology and English. He is an avid reader and TV binger. The Delawarean, thrilled that there are finally Capriotti’s outposts in Washington, lives in Alexandria, Va.